IT'S been two generations since the Spice Girls outburst into our lives, galumphing their way around the world yelling "Girl Power!" as they scattered their brand of sisterhood alongside tuneful pop songs and slick in merchandize demand as Baby, Sporty, Scary, Ginger and Posh.

However, like a supernova they burn-out fast and bright. Within a smattering of years, it was all but over. Geri Halliwell (Ginger) did a Robbie Williams and left the band in 1998, while Victoria Beckham (Posh), Melanie Brown (Scary), Emma Bunton (Baby) and Melanie Chisholm (Sporty) hobbled on as a quartet.

"It's a difficult one to express because lyrically it is quite sad," she says. "It is about breaking up with someone and you can't get them off your mind. You are doing all the right things, trying to forget about them, but you are a little bit obsessing. Then musically it is really fun and feels quite uplifting.

"It was nice to get that feeling of conflict in the video and I think it works. I'm a bit moody in a club and then there's people [around her] just loving the song and dancing all over the place."

How did the fact live up to her teenage daydreams? "All the bits you want are exciting and fun, but you don't really consider the downside," she muses. "Whenever you are striving for something, you have this ideal scenario of what that is."

"The best part was the fun we had. We rampaged through the world singing quite ridiculous songs at times. It was such an eye-opener to us because we hadn't really travelled and got to go to almost every country meeting royalty and incredible people like Nelson Mandela.

"It was like a childhood dream come true - a fantasy. But, of course, there is always a comedown. The hard part was the things I hadn't thought about like being exhausted, away from home and loved ones, having to deal with media and people criticising you. That is the downside of fame."

"There are a lot of people out there suffering - and suffering in silence," she says. "I have been through phases in my life where I have not wanted to talk about it. Because talking about it can be depressing in itself.

"But actually as I'm getting older and seeing how a lot of young people are suffering, I think it is really important to be talking about it. People need to know the signs to look for to help people if you think they are struggling. It is definitely much more open now, but there is still more we can do."

"I did cull them considerably but it is starting to grow again," she admits. "I went through a phase of not buying too many, but sportswear is all the rage now, isn't it?" Chisholm was clearly ahead of her time. "I know," she laughs. "Everyone has finally caught up with me."